Installation of a Euro 02 camshaft in a US spec 1970 280SL

[w113abudhabi]

As we are about to rebuild the cylinder head on my US spec 1970 280SL I am tempted to upgrade to the European spec 02 camshaft. I am aware that I will need to replace the bearings for the camshaft also. I am looking for advice on what else would require modification to support the european camshaft. I read somewhere that the fuel injection pumps for european cars were different. Do I need to also change the fuel injection pump? What else if anything is required and is there any danger of damage to my engine or vehicle from upgrading the camshaft.

I am aware of a fellow members recent catastrophic engine failure but it appears that that most unfortunate event was not related to the camshaft change.

[w113abudhabi]

Can anyone please advise regarding whether my existing fuel injection pump will work ok with an 02 cam? The pump is removed from the car and ready to be shipped internationally at high cost to Fairchilds for a service. There is no point wasting funds on shipping if I need an alternative pump to work with the 02 cam. My fuel injection pump is the PE S6KL 70B120 R22Y model.

[66andBlue]

If you have the correct M130.983 engine in your 280SL then this pump is not correct.
According to the Mercedes Technical Data Book a R22 pump was matched with M130.981/984 low compression engines.
Which engine do you have in your car?

[w113abudhabi]

130 983 engine

[66andBlue]

130 983 engine

Have you checked the stamp and/or tag on the engine block?
What you show is the injection pump tag. This pump was NOT used on M130.983 engines!

[w113abudhabi]

Engine number shown in attached photo.

Perhaps a previous owner has changed out the fuel injection pump. Very strange.

[w113abudhabi]

Checked the EPC for a MB part number for the fuel injection pump which was 1300701701. According to the linked document in German this corresponds to my existing pump the R22Y.

http://www.mercedesclubs.de/books/werkstatthandbuecher/WHBab1968/files/assets/basic-html/page246.html

[66andBlue]

abudhabi,
I am bit confused now about what your goal is.
The R22y is for US version cars but you are planning to install a Euro version 02 cam; non-USA cars did not have the R22y but R22 IP.
The governors in these two versions are different, see attachment.
Below is the same page as the one you linked for the German manual but from the US service manual (BBB).

1. Why do you want to install a 02 cam? Is the original one damaged?
2. If you just want a "hotter" cam I doubt you will experience much difference in your car with an automatic transmission.
Others who know more about this will hopefully correct me if I am wrong.

[w113abudhabi]

Thanks for the response.

We are rebuilding the head. I was hoping to install the hotter cam to get performance closer to the european spec. The original cam is fine. However, if I am going to install a hotter cam it might as well be done now.

Your point about auto transmission is noted. I would welcome further responses to move this forward.

I thought my initial post was fairly clear but apologies if this is not the case. I am trying to understand what further modifications would be required to support the hotter cam installation and in particular whether these extend to the fuel injection pump.

[Benz Dr.]

There are quite a few different IP for 280SL's. MB had one for euro cars, different one's for USA cars and maybe even something different for standard or auto trans applications. The actual differences may not be all that big with fuel curves being the main interest. Although it's nice to have the exact right pump, it's probably more important that whatever you use is working properly.

[W113SL]

You will note some improvement with the euro cam.  Years ago I built a vintage 230SL racecar using a euro Cam (09) on a 280SE engine which was US spec.  I did notice a difference at the higher RPMs.

I encourage that you go ahead and do it, you may be pleased with the results  My car had the standard G-72 manual gearbox.

Pete Lesler
W113SL

[w113abudhabi]

Thanks for the further responses.

The plan is to send my fuel injection pump to Fairchilds now for a full service - this is an expensive operation due to international shipping costs both ways. There is no indication this is required but I doubt it has ever been previously serviced and while the head is off it seems a sensible time to do it with the easy access and it is likely to require servicing in the future anyway.

So is it just a case of installing the camshaft and bearing set or are any further modifications required?